FR2689836A1 - Ice wiper device incorporating a deflector with removable flexible blade. - Google Patents

Abstract

Wiper device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade carried by the wiper arm, the blade comprising a squeegee intended to wipe a vehicle windshield, the wiper device 'wiper being provided with a deflector comprising a rigid section capable of exerting an aerodynamic force tending to press the squeegee on the windshield at high vehicle speeds. The deflector (100) is capable of being removably provided with at least one flexible blade (200) capable of interposing between the rigid section (110) and the windshield at said high speeds.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of windscreen wipers

  intended in particular for motor vehicles.

  It is known to equip the wiper blades and / or the wiper arms with deflectors to deflect the flow of air flows on the windshield of a vehicle in order to avoid that the broom fitted with its squeegee does not lift and does not move away from the surface to be wiped at high vehicle speeds. The deflector comprises for this purpose a rigid profile which creates an aerodynamic force tending to press the brush against the surface to

wipe.

  For aerodynamic reasons, the free edge of the deflector must be close to the surface to be wiped but must not scrape it at high vehicle speeds. The rigid profile, by generating an aerodynamic force, deforms under the action of internal mechanical stresses approaching the surface to be wiped It is known to provide the deflector with flexible beads intended to be interposed between the surface to be wiped and the rigid section at high speeds, and thus prevent

this does not scrape the windshield.

  The flexible beads are usually two in number, arranged in the vicinity of the axial ends of the deflector However, it has been noted by the Applicant that at very high speeds, or in the event of a strong head wind, the flexible beads do not prevent not, in some cases, the rigid profile to scrape through its middle part the windshield, with the serious disadvantage of leaving on it blackish traces

  obstructing the driver's visibility.

  On the other hand, vehicle windshields have very diverse curvatures and in each case require a deflector whose profile is specific, causing the equipment manufacturers to manufacture a

  large number of rigid profile models.

  The present invention relates to an improved wiper device, overcoming in particular the aforementioned drawbacks. The invention therefore provides a wiper device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade worn by the wiper arm, the blade comprising a squeegee intended to wipe a vehicle windshield, the wiper device being provided with a deflector comprising a rigid profile capable of exerting an aerodynamic force tending to press the squeegee on the windshield at high vehicle speeds It is characterized in that the deflector is capable of being removably provided with at least one flexible blade intended to be interposed between the rigid profile

  and the windshield at said high speeds.

  The invention thus enables equipment manufacturers to reduce the number of rigid profile references by producing standard profiles, the adaptation of a standard profile to the different types of windshield being advantageously made using flexible blades of various curvatures, corresponding each with a different type of windshield, and much less

  costly to produce than the rigid profile.

  Advantageously, the flexible blade is clipped onto the profile

rigid.

  Alternatively, the flexible blade is threaded on the rigid section.

  Preferably, the flexible blade extends substantially over any

  the length of the front edge of the deflector.

  According to the invention, the deflector comprises first mounting means capable of cooperating with second mounting means provided on the flexible blade, in order to detachably retain the flexible blade on

the deflector.

  In a first embodiment, the first mounting means comprise at least one bore provided on the rigid section, the second mounting means comprising at least one tab capable of being inserted into the bore, said tab being provided at the end of a development capable of being elastically deformed to pass through the bore and retain the blade after crossing the bore

flexible on the rigid profile.

  In a second embodiment, the first mounting means comprise at least one groove provided on the front edge of the deflector, and the second mounting means comprise at least one tongue of complementary profile, suitable for being inserted so

removable on said groove.

  As a variant, it may be at least one opening provided on the front edge of the deflector capable of engaging in a removable manner in

  at least one groove with a complementary profile provided on the flexible blade.

  Preferably, the first mounting means are molded in formation with the rigid profile, and the second mounting means

  are molded in formation with the flexible blade.

  Advantageously, the flexible blade has an internal longitudinal channel provided with at least one opening opening facing the

  surface to be wiped clean to be supplied with cleaning fluid.

  The invention also relates to a flexible blade taken

  in isolation, suitable for equipping a wiper device according to the invention.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear

  will read the detailed description which follows, examples of

  non-limiting embodiment of the invention, and in view of the attached drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a wiper blade intended to be equipped with a deflector according to the invention, the Figure 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of a deflector according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a partial schematic view in perspective of a flexible blade adapted to be removably attached to a compliant deflector in the embodiment of Figure 2, Figure 3 A is a cross-sectional view of the deflector and the flexible blade according to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, in the assembled position, Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view partial view of a deflector and a flexible blade in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, in the assembled position, Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a deflector according to u embodiment of FIG. 2, FIGS. 6 A and 6 B are schematic views in cross section illustrating alternative embodiments of assembly of flexible blade on a deflector, FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the assembly of the deflector and of the flexible blade as shown in FIG. 6 A, FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view in cross section of a deflector according to another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8A is a diagrammatic view in cross section of a flexible blade intended to equip a deflector as shown in Figure 8, Figure 8B is a schematic view in partial cross section of an alternative embodiment of assembly of the flexible blade on the conforming deflector in the embodiment of Figures 8 and 8 A, Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the flexible blade and the deflector as shown in Figures 8 and 8 A, the fig re 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a deflector, FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a flexible blade intended to equip a deflector as shown in the Figure 10, Figure l OB is a partial sectional view illustrating the assembly of the deflector and the flexible blade shown in Figures 10 and 10 A, Figure It is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the flexible blade shown in figure IOA on the deflector shown in the

figure 10.

  There is shown in Figure 1 a wiper blade 10 known in itself, suitable for being equipped with a deflector according to the invention This blade 10 has a frame 20, of elongated shape, having a cross section shaped of inverted "U", comprising two lateral wings connected to a back The frame 20 is intended to be carried, in known manner, by a wiper arm not shown. For this purpose, the back is generally perforated in a region median 22 of the frame 20, and the frame 20 carries at this level a transverse journal

25 extending between the wings.

  This pin 25 is intended to be received in a corresponding housing provided at the end of the wiper arm, to ensure a

  articulated connection between the arm and the frame 20.

  The brush 10 further comprises a squeegee 30 generally made of elastomeric material, suitable for coming into contact with a surface to be wiped S. This squeegee 30 is carried by a system of lifting beams 40, mounted on articulations 41, 42 provided at ends of the frame 20 Advantageously, as shown, the spreader system 40 comprises an intermediate spreader 45 carrying, at each end,

  articulated, two secondary spreaders 46.

  The brush 10 is advantageously equipped with a deflector according to the invention. To do this, mounting means are provided.

  of the deflector on the armature, known and not shown.

  There are shown in Figures 2 to 11, various embodiments of

  deflectors and removable flexible blades according to the invention.

  In all these embodiments, the deflector is referenced 100,

the flexible blade 200.

  The deflector 100 generally has an elongated shape in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the plane of the views

  in cross section of Figures 3 A, 6 A, 6 B, 8, 10.

  The deflector 100 comprises a rigid profile 110 having a substantially convex shape turned towards the surface to be wiped, adapted to deflect the air flows in order to exert an aerodynamic force tending to press the brush against the surface to be wiped. Preferably, the distance between the deflector and the surface to be wiped is small enough to

  create a ground effect producing a depression under the profile 110.

  Advantageously, in all the embodiments described,

  the flexible blade 200 extends over the entire length of the profile 110.

  The internal surface 1100 opposite the generally convex surface to be wiped of the rigid profile 110 can generally be broken down into three zones: a substantially flat front zone 1110 extending from a front edge 1200 towards the 'rear, that is to say towards the blade squeegee, not shown in Figure 2; a flat intermediate zone 1120, inclined upwards relative to the front zone, that is to say away from the surface to be wiped; a substantially flat rear zone 1130, which is connected to the intermediate zone 1120 by a projecting edge 1125 and forms a neighboring angle

900 with the area before 1110.

  In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the front 1110 and intermediate 1120 areas have a shoulder 1111 at their junction. This shoulder 1111 has a side 1112

  substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front area 1110.

  As has been said previously, the deflector 100 is provided with means for mounting on the wiper frame 20. These means consist, for example, of extending the rear zone 1130 by connecting legs not shown, provided with clamps which can be clip onto the frame, the legs connecting at a right angle to the rear area 1130, at its upper end 1131 It is also possible to provide a fixing by

  bolting or riveting the deflector on the frame 20.

  The external surface 1300, opposite the surface 1100 is of generally concave shape, facing the direction of incidence of the flows

  of air to be deflected, shown diagrammatically by arrow I in FIG. 2.

  The front edge 1200 on which the surfaces are connected

  internal 1100 and external 1300, is planar, and extends substantially perpendicular to

area to the area before 1110.

  According to a characteristic of the invention, the deflector 100 carries first mounting means adapted to cooperate in a removable manner with second mounting means carried by a

flexible blade 200.

  In one embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 A, the first mounting means comprise an oblong hole extending over a large part of the length of the front zone 1110 of the rigid section 110 and opening onto the internal surfaces

1100 and external 1300.

  The bore 150 has a lower part opening onto the internal surface 1100 comprising two longitudinal flanks 151 and 152 extending parallel to the front edge 1200, connected at their ends by two flanks in the form of a half-cylinder 153 and 154, and an upper part emerging on the face 1300, widened with respect to the lower part and

  connecting by a stepped surface 1500 thereon.

  In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 3 A, the flexible blade 200 has a generally flattened shape, having two substantially planar faces 202, 204 diverging away from a free plane edge 205, and connecting, opposite of this free edge 205, on a bead 201 of greater thickness The bead 201 has, in a transverse plane, a section with a convex rounded contour 2010, which is tangentially connected to the face 204, this contour further comprising a straight portion 2011 which extends substantially at right angles to the plane of the

face 202.

  The flat free edge 205 extends substantially perpendicular-

lying on the face 204.

  According to the invention, the flexible blade 200 comprises, on its face 202, second mounting means adapted to cooperate with the

  drilling 150 provided on the deflector 100.

  Referring to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 3 A, we see that the second mounting means consist of a tongue 210

  comprising a trunk 220 of constant thickness, connected perpendicular-

  by its base on the face 202 The thickness of the trunk 220 is less than or equal to the distance between the longitudinal flanks 151 and 152 of the bore

150.

  The trunk 220 is connected at an end opposite its base to a bloom 240 which extends symmetrically on either side thereof, over a total distance greater than the distance between the sides

151 and 152.

  The opening 240 has, at the junction with the trunk 220, a retaining surface 241 arranged parallel opposite the face 202 The opening 240 is further bordered longitudinally by two oblique longitudinal faces 242, 244 converging in distance

  from the base of the trunk 220 and connected to a back 246.

  To put the blade 200 in the hole 150, we start by placing the face 202 opposite the internal surface 1100, then the tongue 210 is pressed inside the hole 150, according to the arrows

M in Figure 4.

  During this introduction, the oblique longitudinal faces 242, 244 of the opening 240 participate in the centering of the tongue against the longitudinal edges of the bore 150, then the opening 240

  resiliently compresses to pass through hole 150.

  The distance between the face 202 and the retaining surface 241 corresponds to the thickness of the lower part of the bore 150, so that when the bloom 240 returns to its initial shape after crossing the bore 150, it is applied by its surface retaining 241 against the stepped surface 1500 and removably retains the flexible blade 200 on the deflector 100 Preferably, as shown, the distance between the back 146 and the retaining surface 241 is less than the thickness of the upper part of the drilling 150 so that the tongue 210 is embedded in the body of the profile 110 and does not disturb the flow of flows

of air on the external surface 1300.

  It will be noted on examining FIG. 4 that the free edge 205 of the flexible blade 200 is applied against the side 1112 of the shoulder 1111, so that the deflector 100 equipped with its flexible blade 200 has a smooth internal surface , thereby improving the air flow under the deflector. Advantageously, as shown, the surface generated by the flat portion 2011 of the contour of the bead 201 is supported on the front edge 1200 so that the external face 1300 of the deflector is tangentially connected to the surface generated by the rounded portion 2010 of the contour of the bead 201, always with the aim of improving the flow of

air flow.

  Of course, in accordance with a feature of the invention

  tion, the flexible blade 200 is removably mounted on the profile 100.

  In the embodiment of the invention which has just been described, the flexible blade 200 can be removed by simple pull in a direction opposite to the arrows M in FIG. 4, preferably starting from an axial end of the blade flexible When removing the flexible blade 200, the opening 240 again crosses the bore 150 but more difficultly than during the introduction, which ensures good resistance

  mechanical mounting of the flexible blade 200 on the deflector 100.

  In an alternative embodiment, it is possible to propose having a bore 150 opening laterally on one side of the deflector 100, as

illustrated in figure 5.

  The flexible blade 200 is then threaded through this side into the hole instead of being clipped into it, and after insertion of the blade, the hole 150 is closed by adding a closing element 160, to result in a conforming deflector to the embodiment of

  the invention which has just been described.

  The closing element 160 can be snapped onto or glued to the profile 110. The flexible blade 200 can be removed by first removing the closing element 160 and then sliding the blade 200 out of the hole 150; it is also possible to propose not to touch the closure element 160 and to remove the blade 200 as previously mentioned in

reference to figure 4.

  In the case where the closing element 160 is fixed in a non-removable manner on the rigid profile 110, a new flexible blade 200 can be mounted by clipping on the deflector 100 in accordance with the method of

  embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

  The embodiment of the invention which has just been described is in no way limiting and it is possible to propose mounting a flexible blade on a rigid section 110 in many other ways, the deflector

  and the soup blade 200 can have various geometries.

  For example, as illustrated schematically in the sectional views of FIGS. 6 A and 6 B, it is possible to propose a slide-type connection

  between a flexible blade 200 and a profile 110.

  In FIG. 6 A, the first mounting means include

  have a hole 150 comprising, in the direction of its length, two guide grooves 170, 171 arranged opposite one another, projecting from

  relative to the longitudinal sides 151 and 152 of the hole 150.

  The flexible blade 200 comprises second mounting means comprising a tongue 210 arranged so as to cooperate with the guide grooves 170, 171, and there are provided for this purpose on the tongue 210 two longitudinal grooves whose profile is complementary to the

  profile of the guide grooves 170, 171.

  Preferably, provision is made to open the hole 150 on one side of the deflector, in accordance with FIG. 5, to make it slide.

  the flexible blade in the longitudinal grooves 170, 171.

  As a variant, the tongue 210 can be introduced as shown in FIG. 7 by clipping into the bore 150 in a manner analogous to the clipping of the flexible blade 200 into the bore 150 of the mode of

  realization of the deflector described with reference to FIG. 4.

  The rigid profile 110 is shown in Figures 6 A and 6 B

  with a rounded front edge 1200, convex towards the outside.

  In the example of FIG. 6 A, the flexible blade 200 comprises

  a convex part 201, on which a tongue 210 is connected.

  Advantageously, the convex part 201 has an internal face 2011

  whose profile is complementary to the front edge 1200 of the profile.

  The convex part 201 thus follows the front edge 1200 and is extended towards the surface to be wiped by a tapered part 260 capable of being interposed between the rigid profile 110 and the surface to be wiped. The tapered part 260 makes an angle with the zone before 1110, and can, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, be oriented towards the rear.

  Alternatively, the tapered portion 260 can be connected directly

  ment on the tongue 210 threaded in the hole 150 provided on the deflector, and be oriented forward, as shown in Figure 6 B. If we now refer to Figures 8, 8 A and 9 which illustrate another embodiment of the invention, it is noted that the front edge 1200 is provided with a longitudinal groove 1250 extending along the rigid profile 110 from a lateral end 1150 over the entire length of the profile or to the vicinity of the other lateral end, to form a guide rail 180 Note on examining FIG. 8

  that the groove 1250 has two faces 1251, 1252 diverging in distance-

  ment of the opening of the groove 1250, so as to be able to retain in the groove 1250 a tongue 210 of complementary profile, carried by a flexible blade 200 as shown in FIG. 8 A The tongue 210 can be clipped into the groove 1250 as shown in figure 9 or

  threaded through the side end 1150.

  1 l Advantageously, means are provided for blocking in translation the flexible blade 200 in the slide 180 These means consist, for example, of providing at least one bore 190 on the external face 1300,

opening into the throat 1250.

  A screw V is then introduced into the bore 190 and engages with the tongue 210 in order to immobilize the latter, so

removable, in the slide 180.

  Referring to Figure 10, we see that in another alternative embodiment of the invention, the front edge 1200 is provided with a development 185 preferably extending over the entire length of the profile 110, suitable for s' releasably engage in a flexible blade 200. The opening 185 is connected to the rest of the profile 110

  by a thinner section 186.

  The flexible blade 200 has a section whose profile is in the shape of a "C", complementary to that of the blooming 185 The external surface 2000 of the blade 200 is preferably connected, as shown in FIG. 1 OB, tangentially to the surfaces internal 1100 and external 1300 close to the front edge 1200, so as to disturb the flow of air flows over these surfaces as little as possible. Advantageously, means are provided for blocking in translation the flexible blade engaged on the bead 185 It s 'acts for example of one or more recesses, not shown, provided on the external surface of the opening 185 and pins carried by the blade 200, projecting from the internal surface of the blade

  flexible 200, adapted to engage in these recesses.

  According to the invention, the blade 200 is advantageously provided with an internal longitudinal channel 290, shown by way of example in FIG. 8 A, provided with orifices not shown opening out opposite the surface to be wiped, for watering of it Channel 290 is suitable for being connected to

  a supply pipe, not shown, for cleaning fluid.

  In all the embodiments which have just been described, the deflector 100 is advantageously molded in one piece in a rigid material. Similarly, the flexible blade 200 is advantageously molded in one piece in a flexible material, preferably. an elastomeric material. It is also possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide the deflector with several flexible blades 200, mounted

  in alignment with one another or arranged side by side.

Claims (11)

  1 / Wiper device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade (10) carried by the wiper arm, the blade comprising a squeegee (30) intended to wipe a screen vehicle breeze, said device being provided with a deflector (100) comprising a rigid profile (110) capable of exerting an aerodynamic force tending to press the squeegee (30) on the windshield at high vehicle speeds, characterized in that the deflector (100) is capable of being removably provided with at least one flexible blade (200) suitable for interposing between the   rigid section (110) and the windshield at said high speeds.   2 / A wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible blade (200) extends substantially over the entire   length of the front edge (1200) of the deflector (100).   3 / A wiper device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible blade (200) is clipped onto the rigid profile (110).   4 / A wiper device according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the flexible blade (200) is threaded onto the profile rigid (110).   / Wiper device according to one of claims 1 to   4, characterized in that the deflector (100) comprises first mounting means able to cooperate with second mounting means provided on a flexible blade (200), in order to detachably retain the blade flexible (200) on the deflector.   6 / A wiper device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first mounting means comprise at least one bore (150) provided on the rigid section, and in that the second mounting means comprise at least one tongue (210) suitable for being inserted into the bore, said tongue (210) being provided at the end with a expansion (240) capable of elastically deforming to pass through the bore (150) and retain after crossing the bore (150)   the flexible blade (200) on the rigid section (110).   7 / A wiper device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first mounting means comprise at least one groove (180) provided on the front edge (1200) of the deflector, and the second mounting means comprise at least one tongue (210) of complementary profile, suitable for being inserted in a removable manner in said groove.   8 / A wiper device according to one of claims 5 to   7, characterized in that the first mounting means comprise at least one opening (185) provided on the front edge (1200) of the deflector (100) suitable for engaging in a removable manner in at least one groove of   additional profile provided on the flexible blade (200).   9 / A wiper device according to one of claims 5 to   8, characterized in that the first mounting means are molded from formation with rigid profile.   10 / A wiper device according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that said second mounting means are molded from   formation with the flexible blade (200).   11 / A wiper device according to one of claim 1 to, characterized in that the flexible blade (200) comprises an internal longitudinal channel (290) provided with at least one opening opening opposite.   of the surface to be wiped, suitable for being supplied with cleaning fluid.   12 / Flexible blade suitable for equipping a deflector to form a   Wiper device according to one of claims 1 to II.